Cardioversies
- Article
- 2021-02-01
Cardioversion is called defibrillation when it is done in an emergency to prevent death from potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Alternatively, your doctor may schedule cardioversion as a way to treat arrhythmias in the upper chambers of your heart called atrial fibrillation. If left untreated, atrial fibrillation can increase your risk of stroke and heart failure.
Scheduled cardioversion procedures can be performed in a hospital or other healthcare facility by cardiologists or doctors who specialize in the heart. Although the procedure only takes a few minutes, you must be there for a few hours. In preparation, you will be given anesthesia through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm to put you to sleep, and electrodes will be placed on your chest and possibly your back. These electrodes are attached to the cardioversion machine. The machine senses the electrical activity of your heart and sends the shocks to your heart. When you're done, the doctor will send one or more short, low-energy shocks to your heart to restore a normal rhythm. You will not feel pain from the shocks.
You should stay for a few hours after your procedure. During this time, your healthcare team will closely monitor your heart rhythm and blood pressure and watch for complications. You have to be driven home because of the medicines or anesthetics you have been given. You may have some redness or pain where the electrodes are located. You may also have a light bruise where the IV line is inserted in your arm.
While uncommon, cardioversion has some risks. It can cause or worsen life-threatening arrhythmias that must be treated. This procedure can cause blood clots to dislodge and move from the heart to other tissues or organs and cause a stroke or other problems. Using anticlotting medications before and after cardioversion can reduce this risk.
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